Sometimes a dream to use, sometimes useless.
Stunning wide-angle shots? Check. Crystal-clear mountain vistas? Check. Frustratingly bulky lens? Check.
I recently had the chance to take the Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 HSM Art lens up for a spin in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain National Park. Let's just say the scenery did not disappoint.
Image Quality: A Win
Right off the bat, I was impressed by the image quality. The lens is sharp, and I wasn't able to detect any ghosting or chromatic aberration. Even at 14mm on a full-frame camera, there's minimal vignetting, which is a big plus. (Any vignetting seen in above pictures was added intentionally by me).
Built to Withstand the Elements
The Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 HSM Art is built tough. It's weather-resistant and has a very solid feel to it. The zoom and focus rings are smooth, and the glass elements have a water and oil repellent coating, which is great for outdoor photographers.
Here's the But... Weight and Size
There's no getting around it, this lens is heavy (over 2.5 pounds) and bulky. That's not ideal for long hikes or for vloggers who are constantly on the move.
Filter Frustration
The large front element and built-in lens hood mean you can't screw on any filters. There's also a custom lens cover that's bulky and difficult to store when traveling.
Filming with the Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 HSM Art
The lack of filter thread compatibility makes this lens a less than ideal choice for filming videos. The f2.8 aperture is great in low light situations, but in bright light, you have to crank up the aperture to compensate for exposure, which means you lose out on the bokeh and depth of field that many videographers prefer. This isn't an issue if you're using a cinema camera with built-in NDs, but that's a different story.
Autofocus and Image Stabilization
The autofocus on this lens is excellent, even at f2.8. The focusing motors are a little noisy, but not excessively so. There's no optical stabilization on the lens, so you'll need to rely on your camera's in-body stabilization.
My Opinion: A Great Lens, But Not for Everyone
The Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 HSM Art is a great lens for photographers who need a wide-angle zoom lens that can withstand the elements, or cinematographers running a camera rig with a matte box or built-in ND filters. However, the weight, size, and lack of filter compatibility make it a less than ideal choice for vloggers and long-distance hikers.
What did you think of my Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 Art lens review? Leave a comment below!
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